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Top scientist attacks ban on 'racerow' DNA pioneer

A LEADING British scientist has criticised the Science Museum for banning a speech by Dr James Watson, the Nobel prize-winning geneticist, for suggesting that races might differ in intelligence.

Colin Blakemore, former chief executive of the Medical Research Council and now professor of neuroscience at Oxford University, described the decision as "outrageous".

Watson, who was one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in the 1950s, was due to address an audience at the Science Museum last Friday as part of a speaking tour of Britain in support of his new book, Avoid Boring People.

However, Professor Chris Rapley, director of the Science Museum, decided to cancel the event after Watson gave an interview to The Sunday Times magazine suggesting black Africans had lower average intelligence.

Rapley said in a statement that Watson's comments had gone "beyond the point of acceptable debate". That decision